Collapsible Putting Practice Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A collapsible putting practice apparatus designed to perfect a golfer&#39;s putting stroke, while being easily collapsible and portable. The collapsible putting apparatus incorporates multiple user positions, and includes design elements to conform the user&#39;s putting stroke to the apparatus&#39;s arced features.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional applicationSer. No. 13/368,794, filed Feb. 8, 2012, hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to putting in the game of golf, inparticular, an apparatus designed for use in putting practice andenhancing a golfer's putting abilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A collapsible putting apparatus comprising a front extrusion arc piece,the front extrusion arc piece having a front extrusion aperture runningsubstantially the length of the of the front extrusion arc piece; atleast one extension arm pivotably attached to the front extrusion arcpiece and slidably engaged with the front extrusion aperture; and a baseextrusion arc piece pivotably attached to the at least one extensionarm, the base extrusion arc piece having a base extrusion aperturerunning substantially the length of the base extrusion arc piece andslidably engaged with the at least one extension arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an orthographic projection of an embodiment in the extendedposition.

FIG. 3 is an orthographic projection of an embodiment in the collapsedposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In an embodiment, FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a collapsible puttingpractice guide 100, as further illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Collapsibleputting practice guide 100 may be comprised of a forward guide rail orfront extrusion arc piece 101 and a base guide rail or base extrusionarc piece 105. Collapsible putting practice guide 100 may be configuredin multiple positions, including especially a collapsed position and anextended position. Forward guide rail 101 and base guide rail 105 may beslidably attached by extension arms 104, and may be configured byadjusting the configurations of extension arms 104 and held in place bytightening friction lock knobs 103. Friction lock knobs 103 may have athreaded machine screw attached for engagement with track nut 106.Forward guide rail 101 and base guide rail 105 may have a track 109 and110, respectively, running substantially the length of the rail. Tracknut 106 may be placed in this track during assembly. Track nut 106 maybe threaded to correspond with the thread on friction lock knobs 103.Friction lock knobs 103 may be screwed into track nut 106. Track nut 106may slide the length of groove 109 or 110 such that the extension armscan slide to any desired position on the guide rails. End caps 103 maybe coupled to terminal ends of forward guide rail 101 and base guiderail 105 with screws 108. End caps 102 ensure that track nut 106 doesnot slide out of track 109 or 110. A left foot spacer 107 a and a rightfoot spacer 107 b may be coupled to extension arms 104 and base guiderail 105 through engagement with friction lock knobs 103. Left footspacer 107 a and right foot spacer 107 b should be able to slide intrack 110 such that they can be configured to a desired width.

In an embodiment, the extended position as illustrated by FIG. 2 isutilized during use of the apparatus. The user places his or her feet onor outside the molded plastic, rubber, or metal foot spacers to alignthemselves with the device. The spacing of the foot spacers can beadjusted by the user depending upon the user's height and/or stance. Inthe preferred embodiment, the foot spacers are fastened in place byfriction lock knobs. However, other methods for fastening the footspacers in place could be used, such as clamps or interlocking grooves.Furthermore, the apparatus could deliver the desired results without theinclusion of the foot spacers. The foot spacers are slideably attachedto a base piece. In the preferred embodiment, the foot spacers areslideably attached to the base piece through a grove that runssubstantially through the length of the base piece. In a preferredembodiment the base piece is slightly arced. This promotes the properputting stance and enhances ergonomic design. The base piece can be madefrom aluminum, plastic, and the like.

FIG. 3 is an orthographic projection of an embodiment in the collapsedposition. The collapsible putting apparatus has two basic positions;however the apparatus can be configured to multiple positionstherebetween. The primary position is the extended position, as bestillustrated by FIG. 2, and the secondary position is the collapsedposition, as illustrated by FIG. 3. The apparatus is configured to thecollapsed position when not in use. This allows the apparatus to beeasily stored in a compartment of a golf bag. The collapsed positionalso allows for easy transport of the apparatus.

In an embodiment, the base piece is pivotably attached to two extensionarms, although alternate embodiments could incorporate one extension armor more than two extension arms. In the embodiment, the extension armshave a scissor-pivot and are slotted for distance adjustability. Theextension arm comprises two pieces, a slotted piece and a solid piece.The solid piece can be repositioned within the slotted piece. The solidpiece and the slotted piece can be locked in place by friction lockknobs. Alternate embodiments could accomplish this adjustablepositioning through various means, such as clamps or interlockinggrooves.

In the embodiment, as best illustrated by FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, theextension arms are pivotably attached to a front extrusion arc piece.The front extrusion arc piece and the base piece should be ofsubstantially exact measurements to promote the space concerns of thecollapsible position, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The front extrusionarc piece can be made from aluminum, plastic, and the like. The userplaces a golf ball at a designated portion of the front extrusion arcpiece. Then using the front extrusion arc piece as a guide, attempts toduplicate the same putting stroke every time a golf ball is struck.

In an embodiment, the front extrusion arc piece incorporates a groovesubstantially through the length of the piece. Molded plastic or metalend caps are coupled to the ends of the front extrusion arc piece andthe base piece. These end caps cover any rough edges that may be at theends of either the front extrusion arc piece or the base piece, andprevent the foot spacers from coming unattached from the base piece.

These and further modifications and substitutions made by one ofordinary skill in the art are within the scope of the present invention,which is not limited.

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible putting apparatus comprising: afront extrusion arc piece, the front extrusion arc piece having a frontextrusion aperture running substantially the length of the of the frontextrusion arc piece; at least one extension arm pivotably attached tothe front extrusion arc piece and slidably engaged with the frontextrusion aperture; and a base extrusion arc piece pivotably attached tothe at least one extension arm, the base extrusion arc piece having abase extrusion aperture running substantially the length of the baseextrusion arc piece and slidably engaged with the at least one extensionarm.
 2. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 1 further comprisingat least one foot spacer, the at least one foot space being slideablyattached to the base extrusion arc piece.
 3. The collapsible puttingapparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one locking mechanism,the at least one locking mechanism being selectively engaged with the atleast one extension arm.
 4. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 1further comprising at least one locking mechanism, the at least onelocking mechanism being selectively engaged with the base extrusion arcpiece.
 5. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising at least one end cap coupled to terminal ends of the frontextrusion arc piece and the base extrusion arc piece.
 6. The collapsibleputting apparatus of claim 2 further comprising at least one lockingmechanism, the at least one locking mechanism being selectively engagedwith the base extrusion arc piece and the at least one foot spacer. 7.The collapsible putting practice apparatus of claim 3 wherein the atleast one locking mechanism is a friction lock knob.
 8. The collapsibleputting apparatus of claim 5 wherein a bottom portion of the at leastone end cap is textured.
 9. The collapsible putting apparatus of claim 6further comprising at least one foot spacer being slideably engaged withthe base extrusion aperture.
 10. The collapsible putting apparatus ofclaim 9 further comprising at least one locking mechanism, the at leastone locking mechanism being slideably attached to the base extrusionaperture and selectively engaged with the at least on foot spacer.